Lee was assessed a pair of five-minute majors for kneeing and fighting, along with a game misconduct.
With three minutes remaining in the second period, New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes passed the puck to Nico Hischier, who was at his own blue line. Opposing captain Anders Lee skated towards Hischier and delivered a knee-on-knee hit that upended the Devils' center.
With Hischier still lying on the ice near the boards, his linemate Timo Meier skated toward Lee, threw his gloves off, and got into his first fight of the 2023-24 season.
"That is what good teammates do," goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen said after the game."(They) stick up for each other and that's what you have to do going forward as well. I think it is a sign of a good teammate and a good locker room as well."
It did not matter if Meier won the fight. It was about sending a message to their opposition, an area where, frankly, the Devils have been lax this season.
Lee was assessed a pair of five-minute majors for kneeing and fighting, along with a game misconduct. Meier was given two minutes for instigating, five for fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct.
Hischier went down the tunnel immediately after the hit and did not play the last few minutes of the middle frame. He returned for the start of the third period and finished the game.
Luckily, New Jersey had a 3-0 lead when the incident occurred, and the power forward already potted one goal and tallied one assist. Meier's fight against Lee completed his Gordie Howe hat trick.
After the Devils secured a 4-0 victory, attending media asked Meier and Simon Nemec about the hit and the response.
"Pretty clear that I did not like the hit," Meier said. "It was a dirty hit. I sort of stepped in and let (Lee) know. That's it."
Nemec, who was on the ice when the hit occurred, liked what he saw from Meier, saying it is always a positive thing when teammates and good friends stand up for each other.
Both Devils interim head coach Travis Green and Islanders head coach Patrick Roy were asked post-game about the hit and had a similar response.
"I'm going to have to take the time to look at it frame by frame and really look at it before making any comments on (the hit)," Roy said.
"To be honest, I have not had a real good look at it yet," Green said to reporters.
There was some speculation that the NHL might take a further look at Lee's kneeing major for possible supplemental discipline. As of Monday at 2:00 P.M., nothing has been announced by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
The Devils are off on Monday and will return to the ice for a morning skate on Tuesday before a crucial game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.